Microsoft Power BI is a cloud-based business analytics service for non-technical business users. With any browser, users can keep a pulse on their business via live operational dashboards. They can deeply explore their business data through interactive visual ports, and they can enrich it with additional data sources. The service was launched a year ago, and now new connectors have been added, including one for Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The connector taps into the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online data feed so that it can present dashboard views with improved data refresh rates.
The newest version of Microsoft Power BI is available to preview for free today. All you need to sign up is a business email address. You can connect to your data in minutes with the built-in Microsoft Dynamics CRM connector and pre-built dashboards and reports. Power BI is “hybrid” by design, so you can leverage your on-premises data investments while getting all the benefits of this cloud-based analytics service.
The service is easy to use, thanks to a new tool, the Power BI Designer. It enables business analysts to connect to, model, and visually analyze their data. They can effortlessly publish reports to any Power BI user. A preview of Power BI for iPad is also available for download at the Apple App Store. Coming soon are iPhone, Android, and Windows universal apps.
Power BI is a free service, but Microsoft also offers Power BI Pro for a low monthly price, with additional data capacity and features for enterprise use. This month, Microsoft has lowered the price of their Power BI Pro service to $9.99 per user per month.
